Christmas in Psalm 23

This morning, we begin celebrating the Christmas Season. Honestly, there is no better time to share Jesus with people than Christmas.

So many people get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the season—buying gifts, office parties, family demands—its a very busy season!

But sharing Jesus at this time of the year is easy, because everyone loves a baby. Everyone loves an underdog story. And everyone loves a story that goes against the odds.

Still, many of us struggle with being overwhelmed during the most wonderful time of the year. So this morning, I want to look at how one of the most famous psalms of all time connects to the Christmas Story.

Throughout scripture, God desires to be our leader, our master, our shepherd! But it is easy for us to lose sight one of the greatest descriptors of God in all of scripture. God being our shepherd.

Last week, I mentioned how dumb sheep really are. The fact that throughout God’s Word we are compared to sheep is NOT a complement.

If you have your Bibles, I want to encourage you to turn with me to Psalm 23.

The Lord is My Shepherd

Psalm 23:1 NIV

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

Yahweh--the Lord--is my shepherd. For David, this amazing statement because he was a shepherd. For him there was no greater honor than to have God as his Shepherd (v. 1a).

In John 10:11 Jesus said,

John 10:11 NIV

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

David says that Yahweh is his shepherd, and now Jesus says He is the “good shepherd.” This is one of the places where Jesus actually equates himself to God!

Because God is the good shepherd, David says he lacks nothing (v. 1b).

Paul echos this, in Philippians 4:19 .

Philippians 4:19 NIV

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Illustration of Lacking Nothing

Psalm 23:2 NIV

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,

The Shepherd makes David lie down in green pastures (Hebrew: grasslands, pastureland, meadows, to your prosperous state (v. 2a).

The Shepherd makes David lie down beside quiet waters (Hebrew: rest, place of resting, peace, place of quiet) (v. 2b). Sheep need quiet waters--waters that are not flowing in order to drink. The waters are good, and clean.

Psalm 23:3 NIV

he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Ultimately, the Shepherd restores David’s soul (v. 3a).

The Shepherd Guidance

God guides David (v. 3b)

— Along right paths (in ways of righteousness).

— He does this to protect His name--You and I reflect the character of God--that’s what “for his name sake” means.

Psalm 23:4 NIV

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

No Fear!

David says even when he walks through the darkest valley he will not be afraid (v. 4a). We all walk through the “darkest valley” often translated “valley of the shadow of death.” When we go through those dark valleys we can trust in God!

David tells us why we don’t have to fear evil.

— David says God’s rod is with him (v. 4b). The “rod” was any substantial piece of wood that could be uses as a “walking stick” and/or as a weapon that could defend the shepherd and sheep against any predators.

— David says God’s staff comfort him (v. 4c). The staff is often a hook-shaped stick that the shepherd used to keep the sheep safe--with it they could redirect the sheep, pull the sheep back towards them, away from danger, or they could use it to protect the sheep.

— David says both the rod and the staff comfort him, because he knows God is going to care for him (v. 4d)!

God’s Provision

Psalm 23:5 NIV

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

David says that God prepares a table (some versions translate this “feast”) before (for) him (v. 5a).

This is the strange thing. God prepares this feast in the presence of our enemies. Think about that! Right there in plain sight of my enemies, God prepares a feast for me. My enemies can see God’s wonderful blessings! (v. 5b)

Next David says that God anoints his head with oil. That doesn’t make sense to us. But there are several interpretations that the original reader might immediately think (v. 5c).

When a guest came into a home, they were under the protection and care of the host. The host would anoint their head with oil to sooth the visitor (cf. Ps. 45:7, Lk 7:46).

Then, David was anointed king of Israel. And it was by anointing his head with oil.

And finally, a shepherd would put oil on the face of the sheep, and it would keep insects from laying their eggs on the face or head of the sheep.

I think there is value in all three views.

Finally, David says that his cup overflows! God gives David more than he needs (v. 5d)!

Psalm 23:6 NIV

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

David ends this psalm, with two point:

David is sure that God’s goodness and love will follow him throughout his entire life.

And he will dwell (Hebrew: literally “return to” but the better idea is to live) in the house of the Lord forever!

So What?

As we enter the Christmas Season, I want to get us thinking about the fact that the baby that was born in the manger was actually God incarnate—or to put it another way, Jesus was God-in-a-bod.

David knew God as his Shepherd. If God is his Shepherd, then he needed to follow Him and allow Him to care for David! We should be the same way! If God is our Shepherd then we too should follow Him and allow Him to care for us!

We saw that Jesus declared that he was the “good shepherd” and He said as the shepherd, He was willing to lay down His life for His sheep.

God has set a great banquet for you and Him alone—but it is in the presence of your enemy (Satan)—so it is important that we don’t get distracted by all the noise of the enemy and fail to listen to God.

We MUST remember that God’s goodness, and God’s love follows us all the days of our lives.

And even when death comes, we will live in the house—the presence—of the Lord forever!